After picking up a serious facial injury in Blackburn Rovers’ 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion last month, it seemed that ‘keeper David Raya was set to be out for an extended amount of time.

Raya collided with Baggies striker Jay Rodriguez with 82 minutes gone and all three substitutes used, leaving no option but for midfielder Richie Smallwood to step in between the sticks for the remainder of the game.

The Spaniard was taken to hospital upon picking up the injury, before returning to Blackburn the same night. There was a possibility that the ‘keeper would have to undergo facial reconstruction surgery on his facial injuries, leading to a six week spell on the sidelines.

However, Raya will now undergo facial reconstruction surgery next summer once the season has been finished, and will wear a face mask for the next month and a half. He made his return to the Rovers team this Saturday in a 1-1 draw with Rotherham United.

“It’s been a tough last couple of weeks. It’s a horrible injury but I’m back now,” Raya told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“I felt okay and my nose is getting better. I need to train and play with a mask for the next six weeks.

“I came back from home on Tuesday, trained on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, spoke to the gaffer and he left things up to me with regards playing.

“It shows he has faith in me and the team do as well.

“If I wasn’t feeling right then I wouldn’t have played because if not I wouldn’t have done any favours to the team. But I felt I could and that’s why the gaffer left it up to me.”